Chapter 57
A Visit from Snape

Remus finished speaking into the fireplace and stood up with a worried expression on his face. Arthur came into the kitchen wearing his cloak, carrying another one under his arm. "We'd better go, Tonks. Every minute could make a difference."

"Where are you going?" George asked. Cassie looked at everyone's concerned faces and felt her stomach start to do cartwheels.

"The Robinsons, actually. Glad you're back, Cassie. Do you have anything you want me to tell your parents?" Cassie started at Arthur for a minute, unable to quite process what he had said.

"What? Why are you going to see my family?"

"He's afraid that since I was compromised, your father might be in some danger, too. We're just going to go check out the situation and make sure everything's all right." Tonks smiled in what Cassie assumed was supposed to a be a reassuring way, but every nerve in her body went on high alert and she felt nauseous.

"Oh! Do you really think that-"

"We're not sure. That's why we're going to go check it out." Arthur said calmly, completely belying the worry in his face. "Shall we just tell them you're well?"

"Uh, no." Cassie's brain felt sluggish even though her heart was beating in triple overtime. "I have a letter written . . . I'll go up and get it." She felt vaguely panicked. She remembered writing a letter but could not remember where she had put it or at this moment even if she had finished it. She hoped she could find it quickly so that they could get to her family soon.

"Accio letter!" said George's voice behind her and she was pleased when the letter zoomed into his hand a moment later. He handed her the thick parchment and then his arm slipped around her in quiet support as she in turn handed the letter to Arthur. She noted vaguely that her hand was shaking. "It'll be okay, Cassie. Dad and Tonks, although they come off as a bit dim sometimes, know what they're doing." He said this quietly in her ear and she knew no one else had heard him, but she felt a little better.

The two disapparated quickly and Cassie looked around at everyone else. A lot of forced smiles were plastered on a lot of faces and she didn't quite no what to do in response. "I'm sure my family is fine. If they weren't they'd be here already, right? I'm sure they still have the emergency portkey that was set up for them at the beginning of this little adventure." She was surprised at how cheerful she sounded but her ruse must have worked because everyone else immediately relaxed and headed out of the room to go back to what they were doing. Fred was looking at the two of them with a rather sly grin and Cassie realized that they might be in for some questioning after all. But before he could actually reach them and start grilling them, Remus came over to talk to Cassie.

"I was just talking to Dumbledore. He said to say hello to you."

"Thanks."

"I've had a thought, Cassie. I wish I had thought of it earlier. You've identified two further conspirators now but we have been stumped on who else to even suggest as a possibility."

"Yes, I know."

"But I was stupid. We should use the identified men as starting points and show you pictures of their friends and acquaintances. Usually when a group of people get together to cause trouble, they invite people they know and trust . . . . gives them more of a chance of not being exposed." Cassie felt a small stir of excitement. Remus was right, of course. Maybe this would actually go somewhere. "So, I've asked Dumbledore to collect pictures of the known associates of both Sootspinner and Grimwood and send them over. We'll hope that you recognize a few of them."

"Okay. How long will that take?"

"Not long. Uh, he should be here shortly." Remus smiled faintly and then headed into the kitchen after Molly. Cassie scowled after him.

"Is it just me, George, or does he seem more concerned than he should be?"

"It's not just you. I think he's worried about Tonks."

"Oh, yeah." She looked up at him with a little smile. "Do you think he-"

"Hey, George and Cassie!" Ginny was poking her head out of the kitchen door and yelling at her. "Who wants to play Exploding Snap?" A few moments later all of them were gathered in the living room with cards in their hands. Cassie had run upstairs quickly to put her cloak and things away but no one had given her a bad time or questioned her about the discussion with George. She supposed that since they all knew about the possible danger her family was in and decided not to add to her stress. She was grateful for their thoughtfulness.

The game moved on in a fairly predictable fashion, with Ron and Fred winning most of the time, which was something Cassie had learned to expect. Every muscle in her body tensed up when she heard a distinctive pop from the kitchen. She wondered if Arthur and Tonks were back or if it was Professor Dumbledore with those pictures. George put his hand on her shoulder a second later and Harry stood up and swore vaguely as the cards scattered. "What are you doing here?"

Cassie didn't even turn around before she heard the smooth dark voice of a man she really hoped never to see again. "I can assure you, Potter, I did not want to come. Dumbledore sent me, and I, unlike you, do as I am told." Professor Snape stood in the living room door, a packet in his hand, and a glare on his face. "I have business now with . . . Miss Robinson . . . so you are all welcome to leave." It was almost comical to see how quickly everyone scattered because before Cassie could have even counted to 10, the room was empty except for her, Professor Snape, and George, who was still standing protectively by her. Snape looked at George and then around the room with some vague concern. "Where is your brother?"

"You mean Fred?"

"Of course I mean Fred."

"I guess he's upstairs. Why? Do you miss him?"

"No, I'm just wondering what mischief you two have in store for me. Will I be bombarded with dungbombs, attacked by doxies, or pelted with swarms of wild pixies?"

"Ah, Professor. You know we never like to do the same thing twice. We like to try new things on you."

"Yes. I am aware of that."

"And we do it because we like you so much."

"And I like you, too." The sarcasm in both of their tones was acidic enough to eat through the carpet and Cassie squirmed rather nervously. He was going to turn all this pleasant mood onto her in a moment and it was already going to be bad enough. Professor Snape stepped gingerly further into the room as if he expected the floor to open up beneath him, glancing around once or twice before he reached Cassie. The Potions Master stared at George with barely veiled malice and said "You're welcome to leave, Weasley."

"I'll be staying."

"You'll be leaving."

"No. I'll wait over here and not say a word, but I'm staying." George walked over to a corner chair and sat down. Snape looked at him and then at Cassie and then back at him. There was a vague light shining in his eyes that made Cassie even more anxious, as if she needed another reason. It was obvious that he knew the truth about her now and was less than pleased about it. But she didn't like the way he was looking at George.

"Uh, Professor? Did you bring pictures?"

His attention snapped to her with a sudden intensity that sent prickles down her arms, but he ignored George after that and she was grateful. "The Headmaster tells me that you were at school under false pretenses." She nodded slightly, unsure of how angry he really was. He was so impossible for her to understand, something she was not used to. "He tells me that you are actually a Muggle . . . something I refuse to believe."

"What?" Then she felt the unmistakable probing of his trying to get into her mind and she forced him back. His eyes met hers squarely.

"Why are you lying? You are not a Muggle." His voice was low and deep and Cassie glanced over at George who was looking at the two of them with a glare on his face. He didn't react so Cassie didn't think he had heard Professor Snape's comments.

"Aren't you here to show her some pictures? You best get on with it, then."

"Thank you, Weasley. If you don't want to be hexed into next week, I suggest you shut your mouth."

I'm not your student any more, Professor. And you know I can give as good as I get, so I don't suggest starting anything with me. This is, after all, my house."

"Yes. I am well aware of that." Cassie heard the vague insult in his tone and wanted to punch him on his rather overly large nose. George just scowled but was obviously dismissed and so sat back down in the chair, looking at Professor Snape with narrowed eyes. The Professor placed the packet on the table where a few minutes before they had all been playing cards and glanced at Cassie. "Well, come on, Spencer, uh, Robinson. I don't want to be here longer than I need to."

Cassie examined each picture carefully, hoping that she would recognize at least one person from the pictures. She hated the thought of wasting Professor Snape's time and she also hated the thought that he would once again have a reason to think her worthless. She thought that if she could identify at least one of these people, he would have to admit that she was doing something useful. But her hopes were in vain because as she looked at the last photograph, she had to admit that not a single one of the 50 or so wizards even appeared slightly familiar. She sighed in frustration and defeat. "I'm sorry, Professor. I don't recognize anyone." She looked up at him, expecting to see disgust on his face, but instead saw a rather speculative expression. She glanced over at George, thinking that he once again was trying to discern why George was still in the room. But her eyes opened wide in shock. George was not there anymore. Fred was sitting there in exactly the same position as George had been and clothes that were identical to the ones George had been wearing.

Cassie's attention was drawn back to the Professor, though, when she once again felt the probing of invisible fingers around the edges of her mind. She glared at him. "Stop it."

"Stop what, Miss Robinson?"

"Stop trying to read my mind, of course! Do you think I'm lying about not recognizing any pictures?"

"No, I just-"

"I said stop! If you want to ask me a question, then do so! I will most likely answer it, but I will not be . . . " She shook her head in frustration. "Stop!" She took a deep breath and forced him out of her mind. It took a lot of effort. He was prepared this time and didn't seem all that willing to leave.

"As I said, Miss Robinson, it is obvious that you are no Muggle! I don't know what game you're playing, but-"

"If it makes you feel any better to believe that no Muggle could stand up to you, than just go ahead and believe it, Professor. But I'm telling you, I am a Muggle. I'm just a determined one, and I don't want you trying to read my mind."

"I've never met a single Muggle in my life whose mind I cannot enter without their even noticing!"

"Well, you have now!" The two of them were glaring at each other. Fred cleared his throat delicately into the stillness.

"Uh, have you finished then, Professor?"

"Yes. Completely." As he turned smartly on his heel to leave in disgust, George (now dressed in Fred's things) stepped into the living room. Professor Snape immediately froze, all his attention focused on the beaker that George held in his hand. "What is that?"

"This? It's nothing, really. We were sort of hoping that you would be willing to help us out with it as it is a potion and we are having a bit of difficulty with it."

"I am no longer obligated to help you in any way whatsoever, Weasley. That ended when you and your twin here" and his eyes flicked back to Fred, still standing in the corner "flew out of Hogwarts on that wonderful day two years ago and became official drop-outs."

"I told you, George," said George, "that he wouldn't be willing to help us."

"You were right, Fred. Pity, really." Professor Snape glanced warily between the two of them, obviously not liking the idea of being between the two of them. Cassie didn't know what was up, but she knew that something was obviously afoot as they were in full prank mode, now. Professor Snape took a step backward toward George and Cassie realized why they had changed places. He figured that George was the more trustworthy as he had been "in the room" the whole time and so was less likely to have anything tricky on him. George stepped further into the room and Professor Snape almost unwillingly backed up another step. Then George/Fred reached down to the floor and lifted a beaker identical to the one Fred/George was already holding - equally full of liquid. Professor Snape's eyes grew wide in surprise. He knew that had not been there earlier and also knew that they had not been able to set it up ahead of time as they had not known he was coming. But he could also sense that he was in trouble. Cassie almost felt bad for him and hoped that they weren't going to do anything too nasty to him. Professor Snape pulled his wand from his sleeve.

"Professor, you don't need to worry. The potion is harmless, really. Completely harmless. We are just having some trouble getting it to solidify reliably. Show him, George." George looked at Fred meaningfully.

"Yeah. See, sometimes it works . . . .and sometimes it doesn't." Fred turned his pitcher over and nothing happened. The liquid stayed in the bottom of the container. Professor Snape visibly relaxed. George then demonstrated the same trick with his.

"This is a particularly stubborn batch." As he went to turn his beaker, the potion exploded out of the top and landed all over the Potions Master. Both twins shook their heads with equally sad expressions on their faces. "See what we mean?"

Professor Snape stared in growing horror at his robes. Everywhere the potion had splashed, his robes had changed from black to a different bright color or pattern, leaving him looking like a painter's canvas after it had been well-used. Even his hair, normally a dark black color, was sporting several different bright shades of such unlikely colors as turquoise and canary yellow. Cassie bit her lip to try to keep in the laughter, and probably would have succeeded if it hadn't been for the expressions on the twins' faces. "Oh, we're so sorry, Professor - you can see why we need help! It's really not supposed to do that!"

Professor Snape didn't say a word, just stalked out of the room with an anger so intense that Cassie expected lightning bolts and thunder to accompany him through the kitchen door. The distinctive pop a moment later announced his departure. Cassie stared with wide eyes at the two of them before all three of them burst into convulsions of laughter. Their howls of amusement didn't even stop when both Molly and Remus came in to find out why Severus had looked amazingly like a peacock. Molly tried to look stern and angry but the twins didn't quell under her expression. Remus tried to look disapproving but failed miserably and both the older people left the room before they had to admit that it had been funny.

Cassie had a stitch in her side from laughing so hard and long before the three of them managed to calm down. By then, the other four young inhabitants of the Burrow had come downstairs to find out what was so funny and the twins' garbled explanations of Professor Snape's new robes only further increased their uncontrollable laughter. Cassie drew in deep breaths of air, trying to regain some control over herself as she sat on the floor. At one point, she had been sitting on the couch, but had actually rolled off during one laughing fit, something that had sent all seven of them into increased gales of giggling. Now, they were all wiping their eyes on their clothes, trying to talk about what had happened.

Hermione had tried to look angry at the fact that they had done something to "Professor Snape - who, if you remember correctly, we all still have class from!"

"Ah, Hermione. He can't blame you. It was only the two of us, and we aren't his students anymore. Well, and maybe Cassie, but she won't be going back to school either." Hermione had to admit this was true and she had laughed along with the rest of them about the effects of the color-changing potion on the professor's usually severe black robes.

They were still giggling occasionally when another pop from the kitchen announced someone either apparating or disapparating. Cassie held her breath, hoping it wasn't Professor Snape, regrouped and renewed and planning on hexing the twins into oblivion. A second pop a moment later, though, told Cassie that it was probably Arthur and Tonks back from her house, and their entrance into the living room confirmed her hunch.

She sobered up quickly, clambering onto the couch, and George - still dressed in Fred's things - sat down next to her. Everyone else looked at him strangely, assuming like Professor Snape had, that it was Fred. Neither Cassie nor George bothered to correct them, figuring they would realize it soon enough. Their attention was solely on Arthur. Both he and Tonks looked very relaxed and Cassie thought that this had to be a good sign. Molly and Remus followed them into the room, obviously anxious to hear what was going on as well.

"Sorry we were so long. Our business was finished after about 15 minutes but Arthur wanted to stay for a visit." Arthur flushed slightly but didn't respond to that.

"Cassie, your family is fine. They send their love and this letter." He handed her an envelope with her father's familiar scrawl on the front. "And I hope you don't mind, Molly, but I invited them for Christmas Eve. I thought that they should have a chance to see their daughter for the holidays." Cassie's heart jumped she was so pleased. She watched with concern, though, as both Molly's and George's faces went white.

"Oh. Okay. Did you make them a portkey, then?"

"I told them we would come get them on Wednesday morning. I'll have Albus make them one. Is that all right, Molly?"

"Well, of course, of course. The more the merrier." She looked over at Hermione. "Your parents are still planning on coming?"

"Yes. Definitely. It will be nice to have the Robinsons here for them to visit with." Cassie noted with a secret amusement that Ron's face went as white as George's. And Ron had met the Grangers several times, Cassie knew. Poor George must be absolutely terrified.

"It will be a full house that day, then." She got up, muttering to herself, obviously counting how many people would actually be here on her fingers and Cassie hoped that she had planned on a big meal, because by her informal count, they would probably be up to around 25 people or so. Cassie looked down at the envelope and tucked it into her jeans' pocket as Arthur and Tonks started to tell them what they had found out at the Robinsons.

"Andrew says that to the best of his knowledge, there has not been any sort of connection made between him and Tonks, that to everyone's understanding in the office, she is still the secretary for the Prime Minister and that they barely know each other. Tonks and he agreed that it was probably best if she didn't go into work Monday morning and he will listen to the office gossip and see what is being said. He wants to go in as usual, though, in fact is insisting on it because otherwise he fears that people may actually link the two of them together, which he feels could be dangerous."

Cassie didn't like the idea of her father going in to work at all, but knew that at the rate she was identifying perpetrators it might be months before the entire group was exposed and he certainly did not have that much time off available. She smiled at Arthur. "Okay. It sounds like he's got a plan, then."

"Seems like it. He did say that Blackman has asked about you again."

"You're kidding!"

"He was wondering if you would be coming to the office Christmas party, I guess. Didn't seem to convinced by Andrew's saying you were staying in Switzerland to ski with friends from your boarding school - Andrew admits he probably didn't sound too convincing. He forgot what country you were supposed to be in. Had to blame it on a moment of senility."

"Great." Cassie covered her eyes with her hands. Her father was in danger every minute he had to go into work and she had not solved this riddle. She had to figure out who else had been at that meeting and she had to do it soon. Before she could express her frustration, though, Molly came back into the living room, looking slightly calmer.

"Tonks, we're going to move Bill into Charlie's room and put you there tonight. When Fleur arrives later this week, you'll both be staying there together. Charlie will be coming tomorrow and he and Bill will be perfectly fine in his room together." Tonks tried to look gracious but Cassie could tell that the thought of rooming with Fleur was not a welcome one. Cassie wondered yet again what type of girl this Fleur was. Everyone seemed half afraid of her, Hermione outright disliked her, and yet all the men got rather sappy expressions on their faces with just the mention of her name.

"When will Fleur be coming?"

"We don't really know. Bill said she would just come early in the week. He may not know, himself."

"Where is Bill, anyway?" asked Fred.

"He's been reading upstairs but at the moment, I've got him shifting his belongings into Charlie's room. Tonks, you can take your . . ."

Molly's voice trailed off in embarrassment. "Yeah. I don't have anything, not one stitch of clothes beyond what I've got on, which isn't so great." Tonks looked down at her clothes with a faint air of disgust in her expression. She was wearing clothes that obviously belonged to the middle-aged secretary and they hung on her slender frame like old rags. "I don't even know what I'm going to sleep in."

Cassie glanced at Remus, who was concentrating hard on the flames dancing in the fireplace. She willed that he would offer one of his shirts to the girl and she imagined Tonks accepting it with a blushing gratitude. Remus even turned with his mouth open but before he could actually spit out the words, Molly jumped in. "Well, that's fine. You're not any taller than Hermione or Ginny, or Cassie for that matter. I'm sure between the three of them, they'll have some sort of nightshirt." No one commented on the flush that crossed both Cassie's and Ginny's faces, which was good. "Then tomorrow someone can go to Diagon Alley and buy you some more clothes." She looked around at the assembled adults in the room. "If we can find anyone who can be seen in the Alley."

"We could, Mum. Not that I really want to be seen buying girl's clothes," Fred half laughed.

"That won't be necessary," said Tonks firmly. "I can go. Trust me when I say I won't be recognized."

"Of course."

"I'll go tomorrow when there are bigger crowds. I'll be less remembered that way. Sundays are always slow." They all talked for a few more minutes about how she would get to the Alley and back (apparating into the twins' shop was the final decision) and what money she would use as she could hardly go into Gringott's and get money from her own vault. By the time that was all decided, it was almost time for Sunday dinner and Cassie, Molly, Hermione, and Ginny all walked into the kitchen to start preparing dinner for the steadily growing crowd at the Burrow. They were up to 12 now and Cassie was glad that the table could be expanded by magic as otherwise they'd all be sitting on the floor by now.

So, when Professor Dumbledore apparated into the kitchen as they were just starting on the delicious roast that Molly had fixed, one more place was made for him without any trouble.
"Oooh, 13 at dinner" said Ron in a sort of falsetto voice that made everybody laugh. Cassie soon realized he was mimicking Professor Trelawney but before he could continue, a rather stern look from the Headmaster stopped his teasing. Harry was the only one who hadn't laughed and the whiteness around his mouth made Cassie worry. Ginny took his hand in hers and somehow they both managed to eat despite it.

"A very angry Severus Snape came into my office not too long ago, Arthur."

"Aah. What was he angry about?" Dumbledore looked over at the twins.

"He didn't seem to like his new wardrobe. But that's not important now. What is important is that Miss Robinson was not able to identify anybody else from the stack of pictures he brought with him. He said that he even tried to view her memories, to see if those would be helpful to him or to her, but she, hm-hm, refused to allow him access." Cassie flushed brightly.

"If he would have told me that's what he wanted to do, I would have let him."

"Yes. That is what I told him. However, he refused to come back to the Burrow tonight. I'm not sure why." George was looking strangely at Cassie but she didn't take the time to explain.

"But that is neither here nor there. What I want to talk to you about, actually, Arthur, Molly, and Miss Robinson, is that I think we need to have you identify the shop where the meeting took place. We really should have had you do this much earlier."

"Remus tried to get me to tell him what the shop looked like and everything earlier, but it wasn't a good enough description."

"Yes. I am afraid we are going to have to have you actually go into Knockturn Alley and identify the store in person."

"What!" Every single person froze at the table and if Cassie hadn't been so suddenly terrified she would have laughed.

"I don't see any other alternative. I'm not too happy with the idea, either. But I think we can put a plan in place that will allow you to go unrecognized and with backup."

"No. Absolutely not." George and Harry said together and she saw a flare of anger in George's eyes as he looked at the younger boy. But it passed as others around the table also voiced their concern with the idea.

"We can post a guard - Allistair has said he would help, Mundungus has offered to be of any assistance, and of course, we have our own metamorphagus that can certainly aid in the project. A thick winter cloak, a bit of dirt, no one will even be suspicious."

The rest of dinner passed in a rather choked silence, although Professor Dumbledore expressed his pleasure at the meal several times. Afterwards, all of the adults, including the twins (who absolutely refused to be left out) went into the living room to discuss the plans for the next day while the others were left in the kitchen to clean up the dishes. Cassie desperately wanted to hear what was being said and was half tempted to ask Harry if she could somehow borrow his cloak and listen from a corner, but as he was leaving the kitchen, a very solemn-appearing George pressed a small package into her hand. He didn't say a word, just left and let the door close behind him. Cassie looked down into her hand and was even more confused. She was holding a package from their store. A package of thin pink strings.